Full Bloom
by Yuji Hiratsuka
Intaglio (Etching, Aquatint, Soft-ground, Photo-transfer) and Chine Coll, Edition: 100, Artist Proofs: 10, Paper Size: 22” x 15”, Image Size: 16” x 11”, Paper: Arnhem Warm White 250g and Thai Kozo (Chine Coll) Natural 35g, Inks: Cranfield, Caligo Safe Wash Etching Inks: Carbon Black,Diarylide Yellow, Process Blue (Cyan), Process Red (Magenta), Process Yellow (Arylide) Prussian Blue, Rubine Red, Printed by the Artist, Corvallis, OR.
The artist states:
The human body along with other elements: garments, fruit, vegetables, furniture, animals, etc.have been my focus. For this edition I created a hybrid plant in Asian style square shape pot.The face of figure is blocked by a large full bloom flower. The flower resembles to Chrysanthemum but stem and leaves are completely different from Chrysanthemum’s. Also, I added an unique bulb. There are small transitions in my work from time to time, and my interest is always based on unpredictable texture that is printed from the etched surface of the copper plate. My prints explore the complex relationship of paper, ink and etched plates to describe my thought, as well as the relationship which occurs between figures and space to express other human experiences. I constantly try to investigate the maximum potential available to me as a printmaker.
Most of my work is created by the intaglio printmaking process. This involves etching, aquatint,drypoint, soft-ground and roulette on a copper plate. I use a four-color printing process (black, yellow, red and blue) on a thin Thai Kozo (Mulberry) paper. As in the French use of the technique of “Chine Collé,” I apply glue to the back of the completed work and pass it through the press with a heavier rag paper beneath.
Yuji Hiratsuka was born in Osaka, Japan. He has a B.S. in Art Education from Tokyo Gakugei University, and degrees in printmaking from New Mexico State University (MA) and Indiana University (MFA). Hiratsuka taught studio art courses from 1992 and until his retirement in 2021. At Oregon State he served as a Professor of printmaking at the Department of Art. In 2020 he was named as a University Distinguished Professor.
Some of the public collections that his work is included include are The British Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, Tokyo Central Museum, Panstwowe Museum in Poland; The House of Humor and Satire in Bulgaria, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cleveland Art Museum, Portland Art Museum, New York Public Library, The Library of Congress, The Smithsonian’s Museum of Asian Art and others